Definition

Noun: A minimal or inadequate degree of attention, caution, or diligence; the level of care that would be exercised by a careless or inattentive person.

Usage

The term "slight care" is a legal and formal concept used to describe a standard of conduct that falls below what is reasonably expected. It denotes a failure to pay adequate attention, often implying negligence. It is typically used in discussions of liability, duty, and standards of behavior.

Examples

• The court found the landlord liable for the accident, ruling that the maintenance of the stairs showed slight care.
• In his handling of the sensitive documents, he exercised only slight care, leading to a security breach.
• The contract stipulated that the bailee must not show slight care with the stored goods.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Standard: "Slight care" is often contrasted with other standards like "ordinary care" (the care a reasonable person would use) and "great care" (a high degree of caution). It is considered a very low standard, and failing to meet it typically constitutes negligence.
• "Slight care" vs. "Gross Negligence": While both involve a lack of proper care, "gross negligence" suggests a more extreme and reckless disregard, whereas "slight care" indicates simple inattentiveness or carelessness.

Variants and Related Words

• Carelessness (n): The quality of not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors.
• Inattention (n): A lack of attention.
• Negligence (n): Failure to take proper care in doing something, often a legal term for such a breach of duty.

Synonyms

• Minimal care
• Inadequate care
• Insufficient attention
• Negligent care

Antonyms

• Due care
• Ordinary care
• Reasonable care
• Diligence
• Attentiveness

Related Phrases

• Exercise slight care: To act with a minimal degree of caution.
  • The driver was found to have exercised slight care when he failed to check his blind spot.
• Amount to slight care: To be equivalent to or constitute a standard of slight care.
  • Leaving the gate unlocked amounted to slight care for the safety of the children in the yard.

Noun

1. such care as a careless or inattentive person would exercise